Malahide keep rolling along

The Malahide Community School rugby programme seems to just keep on rolling along with two of its teams qualifying for finals during the week and a third team playing in a semi-final this week.

The schools junior team defeated Bridgetown from Wexford in their semi-final of the Leinster Development Shield 34-10 to book their place in the team's first major final. From the opening whistle the Malahide team seemed to be first out of the blocks and were never headed.

Scoring four tries to nil in the first half, through captain Shane Woods, Michael Gaas, Andy Hunter and Oisin O'Toole, Malahide took a 24-0 lead into the break.

While this was a great lead to have it was, however, Malahide's heroic first-half defence that was the highlight of the day.

Bridgetown were camped on Malahide's line for what seemed an eternity with numerous scrums and penalties only to be held up a couple of times, turned over in possession on a few and driven back on numerous. Another try to Shane Woods in the second half made it comfortable before Bridgetown scored a couple of consolation five pointers.

Malahide's juniors now face St Mel's from Longford in the final of the Leinster Junior Development Shield.

Not to be outdone by the juniors and seniors, Malahide's first year team, by defeating St Mary's from Drogheda 20-5, qualified for the final of the first year North East Development Shield. After leading 10-0 at half-time through two tries from Simon Kinsella, Malahide then scored two more through Paul Ryan and Ronan Breen to the opposition's single try to be comfortable enough for victory at the final whistle.